The notion of moving to a city fills me with anxiety and dread. Thankfully there’s plenty of rural areas in blue states. The neighbors are just as bad as in the red states, but you don’t have to deal with a conservative government. At least above the local level.
I spent 20 years in a red region of NY. It’s absolutely miserable. Yeah you have a liberal lean at the state level, but at the local level everything is a constant fight for basic rights. There’s also almost no job prospects, no social mobility, no community, and no diversity. Not to mention if you’re a minority you’re constantly at odds with the police, even if you didn’t do anything criminal.
The area I lived in cost almost as much as NYC to live in but with half the income and literally nothing to do.
Wow! I live in a red, economically depressed rural area of a blue state. It was booming when there were some Democrats in local offices but the locals fell for the right wing propaganda. Most smart kids moved away when they graduated. Now there are lots of drugs and drunks with big trucks. I learned to fly, SCUBA dive, garden, graft trees, hunt, hike, forage and build things. “Nothing to do” is a state of mind no matter where you are.
This is true and I’ve seen it work really well for people that want to be on the periphery of a major city - but in the exurbs if they WFH. Close enough for a trip to the city to do something worthwhile, but not doing the daily grind of driving into the city to work every weekday…as long as the state is blue and the exurbs are not tinged deep red, it can be very nice.
I think I’m the opposite here. Live in the city. Commute is short. Things I need are nearby and walkable. If I want to go hiking or something it’s a 20 minute drive. Living in the suburbs means basic needs involve car rides and parking.
Rural NY is much more rural (with everything that entails, including sundown towns) than people expect. Nearby, Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut all have very rural (and cheap and economically depressed) areas with fewer crazy neighbors. Still not much to do unless you get into outdoor hobbies, but doable
The notion of moving to a city fills me with anxiety and dread. Thankfully there’s plenty of rural areas in blue states. The neighbors are just as bad as in the red states, but you don’t have to deal with a conservative government. At least above the local level.
I spent 20 years in a red region of NY. It’s absolutely miserable. Yeah you have a liberal lean at the state level, but at the local level everything is a constant fight for basic rights. There’s also almost no job prospects, no social mobility, no community, and no diversity. Not to mention if you’re a minority you’re constantly at odds with the police, even if you didn’t do anything criminal.
The area I lived in cost almost as much as NYC to live in but with half the income and literally nothing to do.
It’s not worth it.
Wow! I live in a red, economically depressed rural area of a blue state. It was booming when there were some Democrats in local offices but the locals fell for the right wing propaganda. Most smart kids moved away when they graduated. Now there are lots of drugs and drunks with big trucks. I learned to fly, SCUBA dive, garden, graft trees, hunt, hike, forage and build things. “Nothing to do” is a state of mind no matter where you are.
Maybe not for you, but if you can WFH and don’t ever leave your compound it’s a lot prettier.
Plus there’s always some chorin’ if you’re bored.
This is true and I’ve seen it work really well for people that want to be on the periphery of a major city - but in the exurbs if they WFH. Close enough for a trip to the city to do something worthwhile, but not doing the daily grind of driving into the city to work every weekday…as long as the state is blue and the exurbs are not tinged deep red, it can be very nice.
I think I’m the opposite here. Live in the city. Commute is short. Things I need are nearby and walkable. If I want to go hiking or something it’s a 20 minute drive. Living in the suburbs means basic needs involve car rides and parking.
Yes, yes. Continue spreading the rumor that there’s nothing worthwhile in rural places. That way there’s fewer people there.
Oh, I’m not saying that there is nothing worthwhile to do in rural places. I meant something that is worthwhile enough to make the trek into a city.
Quiet! Don’t give away the fact that the country is hella fun! Then it’ll get gentrified
They already are if you’re close enough to post on lemmy but go off king lmao
Rural NY is much more rural (with everything that entails, including sundown towns) than people expect. Nearby, Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut all have very rural (and cheap and economically depressed) areas with fewer crazy neighbors. Still not much to do unless you get into outdoor hobbies, but doable
It’s way better because the crazies don’t feel as empowered as they do when they’re surrounded by their own kind.